Issue - meetings

Retention of change of use of land to use as a residential caravan site for one gypsy family, including the laying of a hard standing, erection of fencing, detached amenity building and steps and decked areas to mobile home. Land raised by 300 mm hardcore/pavers at East Acres, Branbridges Road, East Peckham.

RESOLVED:   That:

(1)          Planning permission be REFUSED for the following reasons:

1.    The site lies within the Metropolitan Green Belt where there is a strong presumption against permitting inappropriate development, as defined in paragraphs 89-91 of the National Planning Policy Framework 2012 and paragraph 16 of the Planning Policy for Traveller Sites 2015 and Policies CP3 and CP20 of the Tonbridge and Malling Borough Core Strategy 2007. The development constitutes inappropriate development which is harmful to the Green Belt by definition. Furthermore, the development by virtue of its specific nature, siting and scale causes material harm to the open function and character of the Metropolitan Green Belt and gives rise to an encroachment of built development into the countryside, contrary to the requirements of paragraph 79 of the National Planning Policy Framework 2012. There are no very special circumstances which outweigh the degree of harm caused to the Green Belt by inappropriateness and harm to openness. The development is therefore contrary to the requirements set out in Section 9 of the National Planning Policy Framework 2012, the Planning Policy for Travellers Sites 2015 and policies CP3 and CP20 of the Tonbridge and Malling Borough Core Strategy 2007.

2.    The development, by virtue of its appearance, nature, siting and scale detracts from the character of the rural locality and causes harm to the rural amenity of the countryside and is therefore contrary to Policies CP14 and CP20 of the Tonbridge and Malling Borough Core Strategy 2007.

3.    The site lies within flood zone 3b, which is designated as functional floodplain and as having a very high probability of flooding where the risk to life and/or property from fluvial inundation would be unacceptable. The development is considered to be highly vulnerable to flooding and therefore unsuitable for this site and contrary to the requirements of paragraph 13 of the Planning Policy for Travellers Sites 2015 and policies CP10 and CP20 of the Tonbridge and Malling Borough Core Strategy 2007.

(2)          Enforcement Action concerning the continued non-compliance with the Enforcement Notice upheld by the Planning Inspector be instigated.

[Speakers: East Peckham Parish Council (Ms P Graham)]